Flash lamp supporting and ejecting means



March 13, 1945. o. STEINER FLASHLAMP SUPPORTING AND EJECTING MEANS Original Filed July 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Marl'ch 13, 1945. o, STEINER FLASHLAMB SUPPORTING AND EJECTING MEANS Original Filed July 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 Paal/o 76 A?? March 13, 1945.

O. STEINER FLASHLAMP SUPPORTING` AND EJECTING MEANS original'Filed July 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 y .i -V'4/ Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITEDA STATES VPATENT OFFICE 2,371,419 msn LAMr, surmrvlvc AND I :Jnc'rmc Oscar Steiner, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The Folmer Graiicx Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 19 Claims. (c1. tf1-31) 'This application is a true division oi' my copending parent application Ser. No. 346,395, led July 19, 1940, for Photographic ilash synchronization equipment, now Patent No. 2,329,011, dated Sept. 7, 1943, and the claims hereof are directed solely to and cover only the flashlamp bulb, combined supporting and used, hot, bulb ejecting means disclosed in said parent application and the inmediately associated parts therein disclosed, constituting in effect a part of such combined supporting and ejecting means, and therefore constituting details of the ashlamp socket structure, which combined means and immediately associated parts, While of general application, are particularly applicable to photography, as is fully set forth in such parent application. No claim is herein made to any combination that exists or may exist between (1)v the herein disclosed flash bulb, combined supporting and used, hot, bulb ejecting means and immediately associated parts pertaining to the fiashlamp socket structure, on the one hand, and (2) the ilash synchronizer'equipment for a camera disclosed in said parent application, on the other hand. Conversely, noclaim is now made in said parent application to the iiashlamp bulb, combined supporting and used, hot, bulb ejecting means, constituting details of the flashlamp socket structure, either per se or in combination.

The invention herein claimed relates therefore to iiashlamp bulb, combined supporting and used hot bulb ejecting means and the immediately associated parts constituting in effect a part of the means pertaining to the details of the flashlamp socket structure, which invention, while of general application, is particularly adapted for -use in` photography, and more particularly in connection with flash synchronizing means or` flash synchronizer equipment for .controlling the movements of the shutter or shutters of a photographic. camera and the flashing of the flashlamp of`such cantera-in the taking of pictures particularly in rapid succession.

In order that the principle of the invention herein claimed may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the acccmpanying drawings, and have therein sufficiently represented one manner of use of my herein claimed invention, which manner of use I will describe, not for purposes of limitation of my herein claimed invention, but in order to make clear an Important preferred use of my herein claimed invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front plan view partly broken away voi a camera. having attached thereto a synchronizer equipment, the battery case being attached to the left-hand side of the camera and the magnetic tripper to the lens board of the camera, the -fiashlamp supporting means of my invention being shown in part;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the camera and equipment partly broken away, showing the battery case on the camera box, there being a magnetic tripper on the lens board, the camera being open and the,iiashlamp bulb in place ready for operation;

Fig, 3 is a rear View in elevation partly broken away, showing the position of the battery case with respect to the camera. and the electrical connecting cable in place for focal plane .synchronization;

Fig. 4 is a front view in elevation of the battery case removed from the camera, showing the position of the reiiector supportbracket, the reiiector being removed and the batteries being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation, showing the battery case, the operating switch, and the spring socket for holding the photoiiash lamp;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 5, showing the position of the reflector bracket, with the iiash- .bulb clamps broken away; l

Fig. 'I is a top plan view, partialyrin sectionp of Fig. 5, showing the structure of the photoash lamp socket;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical ,section through the photoiiash lamp socket, showing thestructure of the two clamping members;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through Fig. 5 showing the structure of the contacting members, together with the auxiliary lamp and its optical system not herein claimed;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section through Fig. 9 on Y the line |0--I0 thereof; and

.claimed invention with respect thereto.

The casing of the camera is indicated generally at 20, the camera indicated being the well known Graphic type of camera. Obviously the ends whereof are attached to the camera casingI by screws and desirably extending suiiiciently about the range nder 25 usually provided on such type of camera.

The battery case is indicated generally at 26 and is shown as made up of two parts clamped or otherwise removably secured together and supported by a clamp member or ring 21, itself secured to the battery bracket 24 by a clamping lever 28.

The battery case 26 is so constructed as hereinafter described as to carry a flashlamp or bulb 29. A reflector 30 is also provided for the purpose of concentrating the light of said flashlamp or bulb upon the object to be photographed. The magnetic tripper` or electromagnetic operator is indicated at 3|, being preferably attached to the lens board 2| by suitable means. Such tripper is electrically connected to the battery case 26 by means of a cable 32 and plug 33, shown in Fig. 1. An operating or release lever 34, which may be of usual. construction and which is provided upon the between-the-lens shutter, is operated by means fully disclosed in my parent application.

The battery case 26 is herein shown as made up of two preferably cylindrical sections 40, 4|, the section 40 being the upper one and the section 4| being the lower one.

'I'he camera having the synchronizer equipment attached thereto, has the reflector 30 supported by a reflector bracket 43 attached to the upper battery case section 40, which bracket-serves to support said reflector in such position that the latter can be readily adjusted along (that is, lengthwise of) the said bracket 43. The reflector 30 is provided with a clamping bracket 44 and a clamp screw 45. When the latter is loosened, the reflector 39 can be adjusted up or down along the bracket 43, and thus can be seljl in proper position with respect to the ashlamp 29 which,

in accordance with my invention, is held to the i battery case 26 by means of a clampingv socket having operating arms 46, 46 and jaws 41, 41 fully disclosed at a subsequent point in the specication. An operating button 48 (best shown in Figs. 2 and 9) is provided for completing the circuit through the ilashlamp 29 and the magnetic tripper 3| when the front or between-the-lens shutter is provided. When, however, the synchronizer equipment is to be used in cooperation with the rear or focal plane shutter, which use is indicated in Fig. 3, I provide, in conjunction therewith, a structure which may be that shown in my 5|, 5|, the parts being so constructed that the spring member or arm 49 can be turned downward so that the connecting plug 52 (Fig. 3) can engage the contacts 53, 64 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3). Said connecting plug 52 is provided with a cable 55 having a second plug 56 engaging a socket 51 of the focal plane shutter, which may be of the character disclosed in my said Patent No. 2,188,065.

The battery case 26 (but with the reflector removed) is shown in Fig. 4, which' indicates how the reflector bracket 43 is attached vto the battery case. The said bracket 43 is provided with two legs 60, 6| extending through holes in the battery case insulating block 62. The bracket 43 is provided with a hooked formation or member 63 which engages a hole 64 in the upper battery case section 40. In order to remove the bracket 4 3, it is merely necessary to apply downward pressure thereon to release the said reflector bracket. t

As indicated in Fig. 4, the connecting plug 33 (shown in Fig. 1) has. been removed from a socket 61 of the battery case, thereby exposing contact members 68, 69. A second socket 10 is provided on the left-hand side of said battery case as the same is viewed in Fig. 4, but the right-hand side viewing Fig. 5. Within said socket 10 are contact members 1|, 12. In Fig, 4, the batteries 13, 14 are indicated in dotted lines. They have positive contact members 13a, 14a respectively, and the lower battery case section 4| is provided with a spring 15 for maintaining a contact to or with the negative side of the battery cell, said spring also serving to apply up ward pressure on the battery cells 13, 14, causing contact to take place between the positive connection 13a (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4) and the positive contact member 16 (shown in Fig. 9).

The auxiliary lamp, constituting no portion of the herein claimed invention, but referred to in some detaii at a subsequent part of this specification for purposes of explanation, is provided with a control button indicated at 11 (Fig. 5), it desirably having an escutcheon plate 18. The said button 11 provides for the control of the electric circuit extending to the auxiliary lamp Aor bulb, indicated at 39 (Fig. 4)

" used and still hot, from the socket jaws 41, 41,

through the releasing manipulation of the operator of the socket jaw fingers 46, 46.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 5, '7 and 9, wherein the socket jaw fingers are shown in elevation and in section, there is provided a hinge pin 85, a clamp spring 8| and two ears or members 82, 82, which are bent outwardly from the substance of the upper part of the battery case section 49, forming a support for the socket jaw arms or clamp members 46, 46. The said jaw fingers have bent-in members 64, 84, andthe hinge pin, indicated at 85, passes through a hole provided' in said members 82, 83, 84, 84, thus providing a hinge for the said socket jaw arms or clamp members 46, 46. A suitable spacing sleeve 86 is provided for supporting the coiled clamp spring 8|. The socket jaws 41, 41 are provided with indentations 81, 81 to engage the convolutions of the thread 88 of the lamp base (best shown in Fig. 8).

As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the upper battery case section 40 and the lower section 4| are provided with vertical or lengthwise slots 81, 89 and horizontaler transverse slots 90, and each slot 90 is so shaped as to provide a projection andthe battery case clamp member or ring 21 is provided with hook-engaging formations v92, 92 to engage said slots 90. The internal construction of the upper part of the upper battery case section 40 is clearly shown in the cross sectional views 9,' I0 and Therein .is shown a molded insulating cylindrical member or block 62 of suitable material, fitted into the `battery case section 40 and held in place by a screw (Flg. 9) Such molded member or block 82 carries the central contact 19, previously referred to, which is thimble-shaped and is tted into a conducting sleeve |06 having a cupped-ln upper end provided with a hole for the necessary lengthwise movement of said contact member 19, the lowex end of which latter is outwardly iianged as shown in Fig. 9. Said molded member or block 62 has a small central projecting cylindrical formation within said contact member 19, over which formation is iitted a coiled spring |01 that causes said contact member 19 to -be pushed upward so as to engage with the contact |08 of the flashlamp bulb 29. The coacting end ilanges on the sleeve |06 and the contacts 19 prevent the spring |01 from pushing said contact member 19 beyond a certain limit. Said spring |01 is of sumcient strength to eject the flashlamp bulb 29, when used, from the socket jaws 41, 41, when said `laws are released by the application of pressure on the socket jaw arms or clamp members 46, 46 (best shown in Figs. 2, 5, 'I and 9).

The connector 53 is threaded into the molded member or block 62 against the pressure of amember 1| with the upper battery case section 40.

The contact member 12 is threaded into the said member of block 62 and causes a spring I2, seated in the socketat the inner end thereof, to insure contact between the contact member 12'and the conducting sleeve |06.' As shown in Fig. 11,.the contact member 68 is threaded into the said member or block 62 and through the connector strip I 3, which also makes contact with the upper batterycase section 40, thus completinga circuit between such section 40 and the connector member 68. The contact member 69 is threaded into, the said block 62 against the pressure of a coiled spring ||4 similar to the spring I2, so that contact is made with the conducting sleeve |06, thus completing the circuit between the said conducting sleeve |06 and the contact member 69.

- While constituting no part of the invention herein claimed, I will for purposes of explanation make detailed reference to the auxiliary lamp 39 indicated generally in Pigs. 1 and 2.v It is shown way openings permitting thev passage of lugs IIB,

H3, whereupon said sleeve Ill-isgiven a slight turn so that said lugs engage the wall of the said upper section 43, thus holding the sleeve |15 -in place. Fitted into said sleeve is a lens ||1 held in place by means of a spring I8 pressing against the bulb ||9 of the auxiliary lamp 39 that is provided with the usual base |20. The said lens II1, spring H8, bulb ||9 and base |20 are received in a cavity molded into the insulating block 62, so as properly to iit therein and be held in proper alignment. The bulb ||9 is provided with a base contact |2| making contact with the positive connecting strip 16 (shown also in Fig. 11) in the lamp clearance hole |22. v

The bulb I9 (auxiliary lamp 39) has a further important function in that it serves as means of checking the condition of the batteries 13 and 14. This is done by merely operating the yswitch button 11 and noting lthe color of the light filament.

-If the color is close to white, the batteries are satisfactory, but as the lament approaches a yellow color, the batteries are weak and should not beused. Y

The auxiliary'lamp 39 not only is used in locating the object to be photographed, but it is used for adjusting the position or angle of the reflector 30, so that the reector will throw the light in the proper direction for making the desired photograph. a

As shown inFig. 9, the auxiliary lamp button 11 has attached thereto a spring contact member by means of a shoulder rivet which slides in a slot in the upper battery case section 40.

In order to light the auxiliary llamp bulb ||9, the button 11 is pushed upwardly, carrying with it; the contact spring |23 which will be caused to contact with the' lamp base |20, as shown in dotted lines'in Fig. 9. Since the lamp contact |2| is in contact with the positive battery terminal 13a (shown in Figs.' 9 and 10),"current will flow through the auxiliary lamp bulb I9 back to the lamp base- |20'through the .contact finger |23, then'tc the upper battery case section 40, and finally through the battery spring 15 contacting with the negative side of the battery 14, thus completing the electric circuit to said auxiliary` auxiliary circuiting means that is independent' from the photoash lamp .circuit and can be used at any time. A

In order to complete the circuit through the phctoiiash lamp 29 and the batteries to the operating button 48 (shown in Fig. 9) which is insulated from the arm 49, there is attached a contact disk |28 by means of a rivet- |29, As therein indicated, when button 48 is pressed, contact is made between contact member 53, disk |28 and connecting member 54, thus completing a circuit throughthe lamp contact 19, contact sleeve |06, spring |09, connector member 53, contact disk |28, connector member 54,' and positive contact strip 16 to the battery contact 13a of the battery 13, and then through said battery to the contact 14a of battery 14, then through said battery to spring 15, to battery case sections 4| and 40, through battery socket members 41, ashlamp base and lamp contact |08, thus completing a circuit throughthe photoflash lamp 29 and the batteries.

As best shown inNFigs. 3, 5 and 9, the switch arm 49 and switch base 50,- previously described as attached to the batteryvcase section 40, are respectively provided with two upturned ears |39 extending from the base 50 and having holes |3|, |3I, and members |32, |32 on the switch arm 49, thereby providingv a pivot 'for said switch arm. Also formed integral with the base plate 50 is a spring member |33 bearingagainst a ilat portion lll I of the switch arm 49 and tending to cause said switch arm to rock on the pivot'formed by the members |32, |32 until contact with a stud |34 stops further 4movement of said switch arm 49. The construction and operation are such that the contact disk |28 does not normally touch connector members 53 and 54, but a slight pressure on the contact button 48 causes the switch arm 49 to spring sufficiently to cause the said disk |28 to contact with the said connector members 53 and 54.

The said switch arm 49'is so constructed that it can be swung downward away from the coning any auxiliary device to those contacts, which,

if done, would cause the ashlamp 29 to be flashed indavertently. To permit the use of additional ashlamps remote from the battery case, there are provided the two additional sets of connectors 68, 69, 1|, 12, which are in parallel with the photoash lamp base by means previously described.-

As shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the connector members 53, 54, 68, 69, 1| and 12 are accessible through holes |35 in the upper batter'y case section 40. A lamp can be placed in the lamp socket jaws 41, 41, and additional lamp sockets can be connected to the contacts 68, 69, 1|, 12, and upon the completion of a circuit through the connectors 53, 54, all three lamps will be caused to be ignited simultaneously.

Inasmuch as it forms no part of the herein claimed invention; it is unnecessary to refer in detail to the action of the magnetic tripper. but it is here stated that if a magnetic tripper is connected to either set of connectors 68, 69, or 1|, 12, such magnetic tripper will also be in parallel with the photoiiash lamp 29. By providing a magnetic tripper, it is possible to make photoash exposures by any one of three well known methods, as referred to more fully in the. specilimake a so-called open and shut photoash,

meaning, as already stated, that the camera shutter is set on the bulb position and is in that position when the operating or shutter release lever 34 is pressed, the shutti: being open and remaining open until the said lever 34` is pressed.

In making this type of exposure the battery case is placed on the 'camera as shown'in Figs. 1 and 2. The plug 33 Aand the cable 32 are not in place. and there is no magnetic tripper'attached to the shutter, it having been removed from the lens board, it being removably mounted therein by means of a suitable bracket. A ilashlamp 29 is placed in the socket jaws 41, 41 and the auxiliary lamp contact 11 is pushed upwardly, thereby causing a beam of light .to be projected in the. direction of the object to be photographed. The clamp 2l is thrown downward and the battery case 26 is turned sufllciently in the member or ring 21 until the light from the auxiliary lamp 39 falls upon the object it is desired to photograph. The clamping lever 28 is then moved into the positionshown in Fig. 1.

Assuming that the reflector 30 has been suit ably adjusted in a vertical direction with respect wardly, thus extinguishing the auxiliary lamp bulb I9, and the operator then aligns his camera in any well known manner such as though the optical view nder. The shutter release or operating lever 34 is then depressed and at the same time the contact button 48 is pressed inwardly and then immediately both buttons are released. The pressure on the shutter release or operating lever 34 will have opened the shutter, and the pressure on the contact knob 48 will have caused the flashlamp 29 to become illuminated and the release of pressure on said release or opening lever 34 will have allowed the shutter to close. No further pressure will be required on the contact knob 48 since when the ashlamp 29 is ignited its cir'- cuit is opened.

When making a flash exposure with the use of the focal-plane shutter, the contact lever 49 is folded downwardly as indicated in iFig. 3, and the connector plug 52 is connected to contacts 53 and 54. The said plug 52 isattached to a cable 55 having on its opposite end .a plug 56 engaged with the focal plane synchronizing socket 51 connected with the contacts 58 and 59 of the camera back. The flashlamp 29 is inserted in the socket members or jaws 41, 41'and the lbulb ||9 of the auxiliary lamp 39 is illuminated by manipulation of the switch 11 and the reflector 3l) is properly aligned from the object to be photographed. The front shutter is set on time in the open condition and the back shutter is ready to make an exposure upon releasing the focal-plane shutterrelease lever (not here shown). The structure of such focal-plane shutter and the synchronizing mechanism therefor are fully disclosed in my said Patent No. 2,188,065. When the shutter is released, the curtain travels downwardly and at a predetermined point, the contacts 58 and 59 are bridged or connected together by a metallic tab or element on the shutter curtain.

When it is desired to make a photoash exposure using the front or between-the-lens shutter, a ashlamp 29 is inserted in the socket jaws 41, 41, and the connector plug 33 is connected to socket 61, thus connecting the magnetic tripper 3| to the electrical circuit of battery case 26. The said battery case is positioned in the manner previously described, so as to ensure the most efflcient use ofthe light from the -iiashlamp 29. The focal-plane shutter is set in the open position. The between-the-lens shutter is set for whatever speed it is desired to use. The shutter is then cocked, the release or operating lever 34 having been previously connected to the magnetic tripper 3|. l

The release or operating lever 34 is now depressed part way, but not sumciently far to trip the shutter. The contact bar 49 and the button 48 will be in the position shown in Fig. 2 and pressure on the button 48 will close the contacts 53 and 54. Current will then iiow from batteries 13, 14 through positive contact strip 16, connector 54, contact disk |28. connector 53, contact spring 199, connector button 19, contact IIB through the lament of ashlamp 29, to the lamp base (shown in Fig. 8) and ket jaws l1, 41 and thence to ground, comple g the l Ycircuit through the iiashlamp. The connector 68 is also connected to ground and connector 69 is connected to spring I Il, which contacts with the 'conducting sleeve |08 of the central lamp contact 19. Current ilows through the magnetic tripper winding and through cable 32 and the rod or shaft of the magnetic tripper 3| will be caused to move downwardly. 'I'he release or` operating lever 34 will then be moved downward. thus retheir said pivot, having jaws to receive the flashlamp bulb directly between them and having,

at the other si'de of their said pivot, projections `to be engaged and pressed upon by the ngers of the operator, thereby to open said jaws for releasing the bulb, so that the bulb, without -preliminary turning or other movement by the force of the said spring co-acting with the contact part, is immediately ejected axially.`

2. In iiashlamp, combined supporting and A ejecting means, a battery case for the flashlamp leasing the shutter, dashing the lamp 29 and caus- A I am fully aware that it hasbeen proposed to provide a lamp socket for ashlamps used in photography in which means are provided whereby the flashlamp bulb can be inserted into the socket without screwing the same therein and so that the hot, used bulb can be ejected from the socket without unscrewing the bulb or touching the same with the iingers. So far as I am aware, however, no one has heretofore provided means such as herein disclosed and claimed and by which the ilashlamp bulb is held by clamping jaw or members constituting the sole means for holding the ilashlamp bulb in place against a spring actuated' contact, such as 19, providedin a battery case' or the like, and from which battery case or the like the used, hot bulb is'ejected by wholly axial movement imparted by the said lamp contact 19 when the clamping jaws or members are, by the fingers of the operator, released from their grip- .ping or clamping engagement with the ilashlamp bulb.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In ashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means for use particularly in photoghaving electric circuiting means, said battery case having an. insulating block, a lamp contact mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of la ashlamp bulb and connected to said electric circuiting means, said lamp contact being movable in said insulating block for the purpose of ejecting a used, hot, flashlamp bulb, a spring positioned to move said lamp contact and thereby to eject such bulb when released, said spring having sufficient strengthand being, when seated, under suincient `com. press/ion to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means, said battery case having a part extending -beyond said insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the :dashlamp kbulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact.

A 3, In iiashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means, a battery case for' the ashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case having yan insulating block, a lamp contact mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of a ashlamp bulb and connected to said electric circuiting means,

said lamp contact being movable in said insulating block `for the purpose ofejecting a used, hot, dashlamp bulb, a spring positioned to move said lamp contact and thereby to eject such bulb when released, said spring having sufiicient strentgh and being, when seated, under suiiicient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when able contact, said supporting and releasing means raphy, a battery case provided with electric circuiting means and adapted to receive battery means, said battery case having Aan insulating block, a movable central lamp contact part for the base of a ilashlamp bulb, said contact part being supported for bulb-receiving and used-bulb ejecting movement in said insulating block and being connected to said electric circuiting means; a spring co-acting with said contact part and positioned to and acting to eject the used bulb by axial movement only of said bulb, when released from its supporting means; said spring having suflicient strength and being, when seated, under sulcient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means, said battery case having a prolongation extending beyond said insulating block; a pair of spring-pressed, socket, clamp members pivotally mounted upon said prolonga.9

tion in such position as to receive between them and support aV ashlamp bulb, thereby to hold said bulb in functioning position upon said contact part; said clamp members, at one side of comprising manually-operable bulb-clamping means mounted on said extending part for opening and closing movement and positioned to engage directly with the base of the said bulb when closed, and so constituting the sole supporting means for the said bulb when in position to be dashed. y

4. In nashlamp, combined supporting and eje'cting means, a battery case for the ashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case having an insulating block, a lamp contact mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of a ashlamp bulb and connected to said electric circuiting means, said lamp contact being movable in said insulating block for the purpose of ejecting a used, hot, ashlamp bulb by movementoi.' the bulb wholly in an axial direction, thereby avoiding preliminary turning movement, a spring conrlned below said lamp contact and acting when the bulb is released to eject the same, said spring having sufcient strength and being, when seated, under sufficient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the flashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact.

5. In flashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means, a battery case for the flashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case .having an insulating block, a lamp contact mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of a flashlamp bulb and connected to said electric circuiting means, said lamp contact'being movable in said insulating block for the purpose of ejecting a used, hot, flashlamp bulb by movement of the bulb wholly in an axial direction, thereby avoiding preliminary turning movement, a spring confined below said lamp contact and acting when the bulb is released to eject the same, said spring having sufficient strength and being, when seated, under suiilcient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means, said battery case having a part extending beyond said insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon saidextending part to engage the flashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact, said supporting and releasing means comprising manually operable bulb-clamping means mounted on said extending part for opening and closing movement and positioned to engage directly with the base of the said bulb when closed and so constituting the sole supporting means for the said bulb when in position to be flashed.

6. In flashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means, a battery casefor the flashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case having an insulating block, a lamp contact mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of a flashlamp bulb and connected to said electric circuiting means, said lamp contact being movable in said insulating block for the purpose of ejecting a, used, hot, flashlamp bulb, a spring positioned to move said lamp contact and thereby to eject such bulb when released, said spring having suflicient strength and being, when seated, under su'icient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means, said battery case having a part extending beyond said insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the ashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact, said supporting and releasing means comprising manually-operable clamp members mounted on said extending part for pivotal opening and closing movements.

7. In flashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means, a battery case for the flashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case released, said spring having suicient strength and being, when seated, under suilicient compres- Ision to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means,

said battery case having a part extending beyond said'insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the ashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact, said supporting and releasing means comprising a pair of spring-pressed clamp members pivotally mounted on said extending part and having, at one side of their pivot, clamping jaws to engage the base of the bulb and having projections, on the other side of their pivot, to be manually manipulated by the operator to release the bulb and'to permit the said spring to eject the bulb by quick movement of the bulb in a direction wholly axial of itself.

8. In flashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means, a battery case for the flashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of, a flashlamp bulb and connected' to said electric circuiting means,

having an insulating block, a lamp contact/ Isaid lamp contact being movable in said insulating block for the purpose of ejecting a used, hot, ashlamp bulb, a spring positioned to move said lamp contact and thereby to eject such bulb when released, said spring having suicient strength` and being, when seated, under sufcient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said'bulb is released from its supporting means, said battery case having a part extending beyond said insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the flashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the'bulb upon said movable contact, and a conducting part in which said contact part is movably mounted for bulb-ejecting movement, which conducting part is stationarily mounted in said insulating block, and which conducting part is in electrical connection with said circuiting means.

9. In iiashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means, a battery case for the flashlamp having electric circuiting means, said battery case having an insulating block, a lamp contact mounted in said insulating block for electrical engagement with the base of a flashlamp bulb and connected to said electric circuiting means, said lamp contact being movable in said insulating block for the purpose of ejecting a used, hot, flashlamp bulb, a spring positioned to move said lamp contact and thereby to eject such bulb when released, said spring having suilicient strength and being, when seated, under suiilcient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means, said battery case having a part extending beyond said insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the flashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact, said lamp contact being of thimble shape the said spring to eject the bulb being a coiled spring which is of sulclent strength and the coils thereof, when the spring is seated, being under suilcient compression in the axial direction of the coils to render the said spring a bulb ejecting spring to eject a heated bulb withoutnecessary manual contact with said bulb, and a conducting sleeve-like part in. which said lamp contact is mounted for its ejecting movement, said conducting part being in electrical connection with the circuiting means ofthe battery case.

10. In flashlamp, combined supporting and anatre Y e.icctingmea.ns,abatterycasetorthcilashlampl I ing block for the purpose o! electing a used, not,

iiashlamp bulb, a spring positioned to move said lamp contact and thereby to elect such bulb when released, said spring having suiiicient strength and being, when seated, under sumcient compression to eject the used bulb from its socket when said bulb is released from its supporting means. said battery case having a part extending beyond said insulating block, and bulb supporting and releasing means mounted upon said extending part to engage the dashlamp bulb and constituting the means to support the bulb upon said movable contact, said supporting and releasing means including a pivotal pin mounted in the wall of. said extending part lengthwise beyond and laterally. outsideV of said insulating block.

and a pair ot bulb-clamping members pivoted' upon said pin, and provided with spring means to cause said clamping member to engage the bulb and so to support said bulb upon said lamp contact, and which clamping members may be opened by manual manipulationwithout touching the battery case having an insulating block'at its upper end and having. a partialupward extension above the insulating block: a pair o! springpressed, socket, clamp members4 directly mounted upon said partial extension for pivotal clamping movement against the bulb and adapted to receive and support the said bulb by such clam-ping movement; said insulating block having mounted therein, below said pivoted-socket clamping members, means ior forcibly ejecting the used bulb o! the photoiiash llamp when released from the action of said clamp members.

i6. Flashlamp, combined supporting and ejecting means in accordance with claim 15, but

wherein upon said partial upward extension of the battery case there is provided as an axial support for said clamp members a pin extending in a direction lengthwise o! said battery case, so that said clamp members thereon supported, are caused by such spring pressure to engage opposite sides of the bulb at the base thereof.

17. Flashlamp, combined supporting and eject.-

'ing means in accordance with claim 15, but

18. Bulb supporting and ejectingmeans for use in a ashlamp to be provided with a battery case with electric'circuiting means, said bulb supporting and electing means having a lamp contact for electrical engagement with the base of a nashlamp bulb and adapted to be connected to such electric circuiting means, said lamp contact being a seatedV coil spring which is of sumcient strength and the coils whereof are under sumcient combutwhereinthepartofthebatterycaseextenm,

ing beyond said insulating block is provided with ears l2, u in which said pivotal pin is mounted, and wherein saidbulb-clamping `members are socket Jaws 41, 41 having i'onnations I1, Il to 1am humm, combines suman.

eiting means for use particularly in nobr. a battery casel provided with pression in an axial direction of the spring coil 1 to render the said spring a bulb electing spring,

the. bulbi ejected imm the said bulb supporting means by the-action o t the said coil spring.

v 19. A construction in accordance with claim 18, but wherein the said coil spring is contained within a ,thimble-shaped lamp contact 1s which itselt directly engages the seated bulb and which, whsnthesaldreleasingmeansaremanually acted -upon tc release thebulb. is forced axially outward by the action o! the compressed coiled Im 

